Month: July 2023
Emmys postponed as WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes continue
It looks like the Emmys telecast is officially being postponed. It’s a fair call, since the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes would have made for an embarrassing, poorly attended event. Variety reports that vendors for the 75th Primetime Emmys have been told that the awards ceremony will no longer air on Sept. 18 as initially planned. The Creative Arts Emmys are being pushed back as well, initially scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10. No new dates have been set, and doing so would probably be difficult considering that there’s currently no end to the strikes in sight. This is the first time the Emmys have been pushed back since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
SEE ALSO:
SAG-AFTRA strike: Here are all the major movies and TV shows that have shut down
SAG-AFTRA has been conducting industrial action for two weeks now, while the WGA has been on strike for almost three months. The performers and writers’ unions are refusing to resume work until the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) agrees to grant them better pay, conditions, and compensation for their work.As part of the strike, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA members are also blocked from promoting films and television shows or attending awards ceremonies such as the Emmys. The cast of Oppenheimer even left the movie’s premiere as soon as the strike was announced.The nominations for the 2023 Emmy Awards were announced earlier this month, with Succession, The Last of Us, and The White Lotus in the lead at over 20 nods each. Of course, the Emmys could still go ahead and announce the winners without the pomp and circumstance of an entire in-person awards ceremony. But even if it does, we probably won’t hear many acceptance speeches any time soon.
It looks like the Emmys telecast is officially being postponed. It’s a fair call, since the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes would have made for an embarrassing, poorly attended event.
Variety reports that vendors for the 75th Primetime Emmys have been told that the awards ceremony will no longer air on Sept. 18 as initially planned. The Creative Arts Emmys are being pushed back as well, initially scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10.
No new dates have been set, and doing so would probably be difficult considering that there’s currently no end to the strikes in sight. This is the first time the Emmys have been pushed back since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
SAG-AFTRA has been conducting industrial action for two weeks now, while the WGA has been on strike for almost three months. The performers and writers’ unions are refusing to resume work until the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) agrees to grant them better pay, conditions, and compensation for their work.
As part of the strike, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA members are also blocked from promoting films and television shows or attending awards ceremonies such as the Emmys. The cast of Oppenheimer even left the movie’s premiere as soon as the strike was announced.
The nominations for the 2023 Emmy Awards were announced earlier this month, with Succession, The Last of Us, and The White Lotus in the lead at over 20 nods each.
Of course, the Emmys could still go ahead and announce the winners without the pomp and circumstance of an entire in-person awards ceremony. But even if it does, we probably won’t hear many acceptance speeches any time soon.
Formula E breaks indoor land speed world record in ‘unlocked’ Gen3 car
Ahead of the final two races of Season 9 in London, Formula E showed off the “unlocked” potential of its Gen3 electric race car. The EV series has claimed the world record for indoor land speed, clocking in at 135.9 MPH (218.71 KPH) in a GenBeta development car. The run took place on a .176-mile straight on the London E-Prix circuit, a portion of which is inside the ExCeL London arena. The car, piloted by NEOM McLaren Formula E driver Jake Hughes, beat the previous record of 102.7 MPH (165.2 KPH) by 33 MPH. Hughes went head-to-head with fellow driver Lucas di Grassi (Mahindra Racing) in a modified version of Formula E’s duels format typically used for qualifying. Each one was given a chance to set the fasted speed on the indoor section of track and both bested the former world record on all three of their practice runs before making official attempts. Neither Hughes nor di Grassi had driven the GenBeta car prior to this exhibition. Formula E says the GenBeta car has a number of upgrades to make it faster and more powerful than the Gen3 car used in race events. First, it has an enhanced power output of 400kW, up from 350kW in race trim. The added power comes via all-wheel drive for the first time in a Formula E car through “activation of the front powertrain kit” for more traction while accelerating. “The GenBeta is the first time that four-wheel drive has been activated in a single-seater race car for both acceleration and braking regeneration,” explains Alessandra Ciliberti, Formula E’s technical manager. “The GenBeta showcases what will be possible for Formula E racing in the near future.”The GenBeta car was also running softer Hankook tires which afforded “faster warm-up and better peak grip.” The harder race-day tires are currently designed for all conditions and to offer low degradation over the course of an E-Prix. Additionally, 3D-printed wing endplates, wheel fins and a wind deflector were installed for enhanced aerodynamics and peak straight-line speed. Al was also used to analyze the drivers’ runs, powered by Google’s Vertex platform and McKinsey & Company’s QuantumBlack, helping interpret telemetry and fine-tune strategy.In order to make the record official, the drivers had to start from a standstill and completely stop inside the convention center. This meant taking a 130-degree turn at about 25 MPH before going flat out along the straight. Speeds were captured 16.4 feet before the drivers hit the breaking zone, or the section of the circuit needed for them to stop and remain inside the building. The regular Gen3 car is already the fastest and most efficient electric racer ever built. It’s capable of over 200 MPH at top speed and generates 40 percent of the power it needs to complete an E-Prix through braking. Formula E describes GenBeta as “an innovation platform” that was created by the racing series, the FIA, Sabic and Hankook. Projects with the vehicle are meant to experiment with new materials and technology in a bid to increase performance, efficiency and sustainability. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/formula-e-breaks-indoor-land-speed-world-record-in-unlocked-gen3-car-040005749.html?src=rss
Ahead of the final two races of Season 9 in London, Formula E showed off the “unlocked” potential of its Gen3 electric race car. The EV series has claimed the world record for indoor land speed, clocking in at 135.9 MPH (218.71 KPH) in a GenBeta development car. The run took place on a .176-mile straight on the London E-Prix circuit, a portion of which is inside the ExCeL London arena. The car, piloted by NEOM McLaren Formula E driver Jake Hughes, beat the previous record of 102.7 MPH (165.2 KPH) by 33 MPH.
Hughes went head-to-head with fellow driver Lucas di Grassi (Mahindra Racing) in a modified version of Formula E’s duels format typically used for qualifying. Each one was given a chance to set the fasted speed on the indoor section of track and both bested the former world record on all three of their practice runs before making official attempts. Neither Hughes nor di Grassi had driven the GenBeta car prior to this exhibition.
Formula E says the GenBeta car has a number of upgrades to make it faster and more powerful than the Gen3 car used in race events. First, it has an enhanced power output of 400kW, up from 350kW in race trim. The added power comes via all-wheel drive for the first time in a Formula E car through “activation of the front powertrain kit” for more traction while accelerating.
“The GenBeta is the first time that four-wheel drive has been activated in a single-seater race car for both acceleration and braking regeneration,” explains Alessandra Ciliberti, Formula E’s technical manager. “The GenBeta showcases what will be possible for Formula E racing in the near future.”
The GenBeta car was also running softer Hankook tires which afforded “faster warm-up and better peak grip.” The harder race-day tires are currently designed for all conditions and to offer low degradation over the course of an E-Prix. Additionally, 3D-printed wing endplates, wheel fins and a wind deflector were installed for enhanced aerodynamics and peak straight-line speed. Al was also used to analyze the drivers’ runs, powered by Google’s Vertex platform and McKinsey & Company’s QuantumBlack, helping interpret telemetry and fine-tune strategy.
In order to make the record official, the drivers had to start from a standstill and completely stop inside the convention center. This meant taking a 130-degree turn at about 25 MPH before going flat out along the straight. Speeds were captured 16.4 feet before the drivers hit the breaking zone, or the section of the circuit needed for them to stop and remain inside the building.
The regular Gen3 car is already the fastest and most efficient electric racer ever built. It’s capable of over 200 MPH at top speed and generates 40 percent of the power it needs to complete an E-Prix through braking. Formula E describes GenBeta as “an innovation platform” that was created by the racing series, the FIA, Sabic and Hankook. Projects with the vehicle are meant to experiment with new materials and technology in a bid to increase performance, efficiency and sustainability.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/formula-e-breaks-indoor-land-speed-world-record-in-unlocked-gen3-car-040005749.html?src=rss
Red Meat Allergy Caused By Ticks Is an ‘Emerging Public Health Concern’: CDC
An anonymous reader quotes a report from ABC News: Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that arises after people eat red meat or consume products with alpha-gal, a type of sugar found in most mammals, the CDC says. The syndrome is typically caused by a bite from the lone star tick, which transfers alpha-gal into the victim’s body which in turn triggers an immune system response. The CDC says the number of AGS cases are underdiagnosed in the U.S. and — despite the spread of the condition — many clinicians aren’t even aware it exists, let alone how to diagnose it. Between 2010 and 2022, there were more than 110,000 cases of AGS identified, according to the CDC.
The agency estimates the actual number of cases may be as high as 450,000 but notes the syndrome is underdiagnosed due to factors including that diagnosis requires a test, some providers are not familiar with AGS and some people with symptoms don’t get tested. AGS symptoms can include hives or itchy rash, nausea or vomiting, heartburn or indigestion, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and severe stomach pain. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically occur two to six hours after consuming products with alpha-gal. […] From 2010 to 2018, more than 34,000 suspected cases were identified. However, over the 2017-2022 study period, some 357,000 tests were submitted, resulting in just over 90,000 positive results. The number of new cases increased by about 15,000 each year during the five-year study period, with most cases occurring in the Southern, Midwestern, and Mid-Atlantic U.S., the CDC found. “Alpha-gal syndrome is an important emerging public health problem, with potentially severe health impacts that can last a lifetime for some patients,” Dr. Ann Carpenter, and epidemiologist and lead author of one of the CDC studies, said in a statement.
“It’s critical for clinicians to be aware of AGS so they can properly evaluate, diagnose, and manage their patients and also educate them on tick-bite prevention to protect patients from developing this allergic condition,” she added.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from ABC News: Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that arises after people eat red meat or consume products with alpha-gal, a type of sugar found in most mammals, the CDC says. The syndrome is typically caused by a bite from the lone star tick, which transfers alpha-gal into the victim’s body which in turn triggers an immune system response. The CDC says the number of AGS cases are underdiagnosed in the U.S. and — despite the spread of the condition — many clinicians aren’t even aware it exists, let alone how to diagnose it. Between 2010 and 2022, there were more than 110,000 cases of AGS identified, according to the CDC.
The agency estimates the actual number of cases may be as high as 450,000 but notes the syndrome is underdiagnosed due to factors including that diagnosis requires a test, some providers are not familiar with AGS and some people with symptoms don’t get tested. AGS symptoms can include hives or itchy rash, nausea or vomiting, heartburn or indigestion, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and severe stomach pain. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically occur two to six hours after consuming products with alpha-gal. […] From 2010 to 2018, more than 34,000 suspected cases were identified. However, over the 2017-2022 study period, some 357,000 tests were submitted, resulting in just over 90,000 positive results. The number of new cases increased by about 15,000 each year during the five-year study period, with most cases occurring in the Southern, Midwestern, and Mid-Atlantic U.S., the CDC found. “Alpha-gal syndrome is an important emerging public health problem, with potentially severe health impacts that can last a lifetime for some patients,” Dr. Ann Carpenter, and epidemiologist and lead author of one of the CDC studies, said in a statement.
“It’s critical for clinicians to be aware of AGS so they can properly evaluate, diagnose, and manage their patients and also educate them on tick-bite prevention to protect patients from developing this allergic condition,” she added.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.